BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent technological advances and diagnostic and therapeutic
innovations have resulted in an impressive improvement in the survival of newborn
infants requiring intensive care. Consequently, with the use of modern invasive diagnostic
and therapeutic procedures, the incidence of iatrogenic events has also increased.
The aim of this study was to assess various iatrogenic complications in neonates requiring
intensive care and determine possible contributing factors to the injuries. METHODS:
Our prospective cross-sectional cohort survey was conducted in a central regional
level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Correlations between intensive therapeutic
interventions, complications, factors influencing attendance and prognosis, and the
prevalence of iatrogenic skin injuries (ISIs) were investigated over a 2-year study
period. RESULTS: Between January 31, 2012, and January 31, 2014, 460 neonates were
admitted to the NICU, 83 of whom exhibited some kind of ISI. The major risk factors
for ISIs were low birthweight, young gestational age, long NICU stay, use of the intubation-surfactant-extubation
(INSURE) technique, surfactant use, mechanical ventilation, insertion of an umbilical
arterial catheter, circulatory and cardiac support with dopamine or dobutamine, pulmonary
hemorrhage, intracranial hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia,
and positive microbiology culture results. CONCLUSION: To prevent ISIs, careful consideration
of risk factors and the creation of protocols ensuring efficient treatment of injuries
are needed.
